The Cincinnati Bengals have long possessed one of the NFL’s premier collections of offensive weapons, and another preseason ranking backs that up.
FOX Sports’ Steven Ruiz ranked Cincinnati’s skill players No. 4 among the 20 best position groups in football heading into the 2026 season. Only the Denver Broncos’ offensive line and the Houston Texans and Los Angeles Rams defensive lines placed higher.
"There’s a reason why Burrow was begging his front office to pay both of them," Ruiz wrote. "Both receivers can dictate coverages and pull attention away from their less talented colleagues, giving Burrow plenty of options on every single dropback."
Ruiz highlighted Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins, Chase Brown, Andrei Iosivas and Mike Gesicki as the nucleus
of a unit carrying $78.9 million in combined 2026 salary-cap charges.
He labeled Chase the NFL’s best receiver and suggested Higgins may be the league’s best No. 2 option. Brown’s consistency in the backfield also helped Cincinnati earn a top-five spot.
Chase is coming off another huge season after catching 125 passes for 1,412 yards and eight touchdowns in 2025. Higgins added 846 yards and a team-high 11 receiving touchdowns while earning his first Pro Bowl selection.
With Joe Burrow directing the offense, Cincinnati’s collection of playmakers is one of the clearest strengths on the roster.
This article originally appeared on Bengals Wire: Bengals skill players land among NFL’s best position groups
